Does pfSense Need a 64-Bit CPU?
Yes. pfSense requires a 64-bit (amd64, x86-64) processor. Netgate's documented minimum is a 64-bit CPU, 1 GB of RAM, an 8 GB disk and one supported network interface card (NIC). Alternate architectures such as 32-bit x86, Raspberry Pi and other non-Netgate ARM devices, PowerPC, MIPS and SPARC are not compatible. Netgate's minimum is not suitable for every environment, so buyers should size the hardware for their routing, filtering and VPN load.
CPU and Memory Requirements
Single-thread CPU speed matters most for a pfSense firewall. Higher clock speeds and larger caches help the firewall process packets, run VPN encryption and handle inspection tools such as Suricata. Additional cores help only where the workload runs in parallel. Memory needs depend on the state table, the number of connections and the packages in use. The 64 GB of RAM in the Thinvent systems on this page exceeds the base requirement by a wide margin, and it leaves room for large state tables and multiple packages.
Network Interfaces and Storage
A pfSense router needs at least two network ports: one for the WAN and one for the LAN. Systems with dual LAN ports meet this need without a USB or PCIe adapter. Storage requirements are modest. The Thinvent systems on this page include SSDs from 128 GB to 2 TB, which covers the 8 GB minimum with ample space for logs, packages and configuration backups.
Thinvent Products for pfSense
The Thinvent range does not include 32-bit or ARM processors for pfSense. Every Thinvent system on this page uses an Intel or AMD 64-bit processor, and the Intel Core i7-1255U, Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD Ryzen 5 7430U are all 64-bit parts. The Thinvent® Industrial PC IPC5 with Intel Core i7-1255U, the Thinvent® Aero Mini PC with Intel Core i7-1255U and the Thinvent® Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U all include dual LAN ports and 64 GB of DDR4 RAM. The Thinvent® Industrial PC IPC5 with Intel Core i5-1335U and quad DB9 serial ports suits industrial sites that also need serial connectivity. The Thinvent® Uno 21.5" All in One PC and Uno 23.8" All in One PC run the same class of 64-bit processors for desk or wall-mounted use.
